Pages

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Ah! SunShine Girl

Ah,
Sunshine Girl

On a sticky May morning, I was sitting at the
cottage-window looking out at the long stretch of beach, the cluster of rocks,
and a sail moving slowly in the horizon. Just then, my cell phone buzzed…It was
my granddaughter Kyra from US. I sprang up…she’s like a Sun, when you lift your
face to her, it fades away all agonies, leaving you clean, and prepares you to
burst into hysterical laughter...

Kyra informed me about her visit to India. It
made me extremely happy—I tried to imagine the young lady, but, couldn’t picture
her after so many years. But, the patter of her small feet, her screams, and her
tremulous smile…were still so fresh in my mind.

Kyra was about eight when the family left
India. She never came back, but stayed in touch with me through telephonic
conversations. Time flew; she turned fourteen and after nabbing a series of
medals in Beach Volley ball tournaments, she was now part of the US Beach Volley Ball team. I heard, they were playing
in Chennai beach giving a good fight to the Indian contingent.

Kyra was raised in
the coastal town of Puri in Orissa and perhaps that’s how she developed keen
interest in the beach games. When I asked her, she giggled and said, “Maybe, the
location of my ‘Nani’s cottage held my interest alive…how much I love
your cottage, Nani –the silvery view from your westward-window is sooo
attractive. Please give me that room when I ‘m there…! By the way, I am coming
to meet you by the morning flight day after tomorrow.”

“You are welcome,
but, it’s terribly hot and humid here, my little Sunshine! And I do not have air
conditioners in the house; old DC connection doesn’t allow me to put up one.
Hope you’ll able to bear the extreme heat, my child.”

“Ah, don’t worry, Nani!! ….The dusty
and narrow roads, the fiery red lobsters, your Orissa cotton curtains,
sunflowers, bougainvilleas in your garden are already casting wonderful images
in my mind. Do not worry, I shall drink plenty of coconut water,
lemonades---there’s no reason why I wouldn’t enjoy the summer!! Moreover, your
‘anchal ki chaon’ is freeeeeeee… for me! All throughout my childhood, it
kept me away from the tartness of the sun. Now, of course, Lakme Sun Screen
Expert has taken over your role--- the so-called ‘nanima’s’ protection.
She giggled and my mood changed slightly but I laughed.

“Prepare yourself to walk with me to the coast
before sunrise to catch those fishing trawlers every morning. Are you listening,
Naani? There are still certain images in mind that wipe me flat….Aaah, we’ll buy
fresh lobsters and hilsas from the fishermen. You must make exotic fish dishes
Nani. …Oh, the sounds of the waves and the ocean winds are
beckoning….”

‘Well…yeah. But,
Kyra, you’re freaking me, dear. I am old now, my knees ache, so I can’t strain
them these days. But I have a maid who does all the cooking and she’ll cook for
you...Is that alright? ’ I said tossing my head on the backrest.

‘Uh—of course,
that suits me. But Naniiiii, you are still young at heart---you need to let that
fear out….’ she proceeded to convince me regardless. I tried to interrupt, but
the enormity of her expectations was so overwhelming that I had to stop. I
pulled the footrest of the recliner and sank deeper into the cushion, reveling
in my moment.

Happiness is so
evanescent. I realized, when one is in a happy company, life certainly becomes
more vivid, painted in deeper shades….otherwise we are so colorless and severely
alone.

Kyra was yawning in
frequent small gulps now…..’ so I said bye to her and decided to abandon
all my worries. It was a moment to feel all warm and good.

I had to make
arrangements, equip the house with a cache of mineral water, fresh and condensed
milk, ovaltine..(?) Many images of her toddler days flew past. I thanked God
for her Indian sentiments were still there like spores, lurking….

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The day eventually
arrived. I was out in the garden; my chauffeur had gone to pick her up from the
Airport. Suddenly, her sweet voice floated up in the air…”Naaani…” I
turned and rushed to her. She was wearing a loose-knit white tank-top with a red
inner, a short red kilted skirt and black stockings, her lipstick was a shocking
red and her high stiletto heels were making sensuous clicking sounds with her
movements ---her 'fashion-sense' elicited confusion,embarrassment and a slight
panic in me. Her skin was radiating though and I could see that she had done her
make up with great care, —her eye shadow and mascara were sparkling.

Suddenly she
pounced on me….

‘Naani, babe, I
haven’t seen you in ages! You look the same’. She cooed and gave me a bear hug.
A young boy came out of the car and slowly kept cozying up to her…Kyra giggled,
when he put his arm around her and nuzzled her neck.

‘Ravi sweetie, you
remember I told you about my girlfriend, and this is her---my dearest, bestest,
Naani”. I winced.

‘Hey,’ Ravi shook
hands with me, swaying slightly on his heels, handed me a bunch of flowers. Kyra
and I exchanged looks… I have been levelheaded
in the face of stress….but today a strange kind of uneasiness was raising around
me. But, it was my responsibility to reach out
to my guests, no matter what!

‘It was a last
minute decision, Nani. Ravi is my boyfriend and he’s been travelling with our
team as the Team Manager. He wanted to see Puri Beach…so, I asked him to come
along’, Kyra said, shoving her hand into Ravi’s rear trouser pocket. He’s a
sweet fella, Naani…and I absolutely love him’. She chuckled, and I
swallowed my disappointment and quickly added, ‘Come on in…’

The air was
invigorating inside me and I wanted to wriggle out from all the
unpleasantness’….The house had only two bedrooms, and how to accommodate Ravi in
the house was a big question mark!

‘Nani sweetie, you
free this evening?’

‘Um, I’m not sure.
Why?’

‘Well, I thought
you, Ravi and I could do something together. Watch a movie; go surfing, swimming
something like that. What do you say, princess?’

‘Is Mamma going to
be at home today, baby?’I asked her in a rush

‘Why…?’ her voice
rose, unnaturally.

I could think of no
answer to give her. I wanted to ask my daughter if I could allow the boy in the
house, but moved away without saying a word.

But, she got the
hint. I saw a wave of annoyance on her face. She was glaring at me, her eyebrows
knit together with preconceived disapproval. Ravi, his chin cupped in his hand,
was looking at me in surprise.

I thought she had a
quality of innocence in her, a likable naïveté, but now I began to ask myself
whether it was she or maybe it was me who was so naïve…

I took them to the
dining hall and served tea. There were some home baked coconut samosas and
cakes.

While sipping our
tea, we watched the clouds drop from the sky…with it, the rain. The house took
the appearance of a shelter. I was feeling like an unobtrusive mouse sitting in
a corner of the room. --- But, I decided to call a truce.

‘So what are your
grand plans anyway?’ I asked.

A high wind whined
through the trees, Kyra didn’t answer and couldn’t sit still either, she went to
the window, rubbing the pane with her nose; she called Ravi.

‘You know, as a
kid, I used to lie in this backyard and watch the planes fly overhead…the clean
plumes of jet stream used to terrify me. I don’t like this place now’, she
whispered to Ravi. ‘I don’t want to stay here.’

Ravi embraced her
in his arms and started rubbing his face against her cheek….she flung her arms
around his neck and Ravi hugged her to his chest and kissed her, full on the
mouth…

I couldn’t ignore
my accelerated heartbeats! Just extra adrenaline, I told myself and left the
room, I was quiet with the door.

I went to the
kitchen, and started preparing the evening meal…After sometime, Kyra came in.;
she was almost bare-chested now, naked, but for her pink, frilly bikini. She
looked very thin and fragile; her dark body with sharp-edged bones under the
skin gave me a fright.

Kyra tapped the
kitchen counter with her knuckles and said: ‘Nani, we are going for a swim now. But, we’ll have early dinner tonight and shall be
leaving tomorrow by the morning flight.”

I gave her a shove,
“What…? Why?”

She was uncertain
now, biting her nails, unable to find an answer, And I sensing her confusion,
felt a sudden, predatory thrill of triumph. I found Bryan Adams 'Summer of '69'
faintly amusing...

neither did i expect this end like Akansha.. but i have a negative comment.. hope you don't mind.. you started it off so well for the competition.. you could have stopped it without letting Ravi into the story. it would have sounded great and cheerful. anyways it just my view.. you can always differ. but loved the post and language..

Hi Ashreyamom...Welcome to my post:)Thanks a LOT for telling me... Ravi was purposely drawn into the story to give a different effect. While everyone was enthralled in the company of bubbly Kyra...Granny saw her darker side!! Thank you.. for the feedback and for taking the time to read it...Thanks for the implied kudos..

Lovely n grippin story.. very, very different.. n I so relate to the granny's side of lookin at things.. reminded if my granny too.. in the end, I kinda realise tht grannys r usually right... I actually was waiting as to how it'd end.. n was glued to the flow.. brilliant story tellin skills u have Panchaliji :)

Dear R-A-J ! Welcome to my space :) Thank you... I am so glad this did not come across as illogical and unconvincing.We really cannot decide for others what will seem right to them and what will not. But, looking through the granny's eyes...I couldn't stand neutral.. :))))Granny's are always wonderful,Raj...donno when I'll be one though..:DThanks for coming by... and I would love to see you more often here..:)))))

Dear Indu, Loved your handle 'Jeeteraho" :))) C'est la vie---This is just the way life is....For one may deal with a set-back... maybe even satisfactorily... but it always leaves a scar behind...Lovely to see you here, and would love to see you more often on these pages :)))))Thanks for the encouraging comment!

Wow!! Thank you for the thumbs up... so strategically placed!:)Coming from you,..I am feeling euphoric..:)))Thanks a bunch for dropping in... it was such a pleasure reading your feedback! Would definitely love to see you more on these pages...:))))))